Suri Core 1.0 review: Finally, an affordable toothbrush with some sustainable credentials

Suri Core 1.0: One minute review

I’ve tested numerous electric brushes with far too many settings and features, from 12+ brushing modes to apps that provide real-time guidance. Yet I inevitably end up using them in the same way: pick up the brush, press the button once, brush my teeth, then put it back in the cupboard until the next time. I’ve never used an app outside of a review period, and I rarely bother with any extra settings either. Battery life is also important to me, as I don’t have a compatible plug socket in my bathroom. And I’d also rather not throw out too many plastic brush-heads that will ultimately end up in landfill.

Suri brushes are designed to be no-fuss, no-frills sonic toothbrushes with minimal settings to avoid a simple tool from becoming unnecessarily complicated, alongside recyclable elements. The Suri Core 1.0 sticks closely to this brief, offering a more affordable alternative to its successful, pricier Pro range.

Naturally, Suri has cut some corners with the Core 1.0 to keep the price down, notably replacing the metal body with a “bio-plastic” one made from renewable sources and recycled material, while the motor is slightly weaker, offering 28,000 movements a minute instead of the Pro 2.0’s 30,000. It doesn’t come with a clean-and-charge case as the Pro does, either. Instead, you simply get a brush cap for travel. It lasts six days fewer than the Pro on a full charge, with a battery that lasts 28 days compared to the Pro’s 34 days.

These efficiency savings are minor, and do nothing to impact the toothbrush’s overall quality. The simple design makes it eminently easy to use, while the built-in timer uses haptic feedback every 30 seconds to help you keep track of brushing time. It looks great, too, especially when stuck to the wall using the provided magnetic mirror-mount attachment. It doesn’t feel quite as pleasing in the hand as the metal model, but the pastel-coloured body has a stylish look that will happily fit the aesthetics of a variety of bathrooms. Whichever colour you choose, the brush head is white.

Speaking of brush heads, in the US and UK, Suri operates prepaid mailing programs that enable you to send used heads back to the company, which it then recycles and makes into new products such as soap dishes. The toothbrush is also covered by a warranty, during which Suri will repair and return it at no cost. In addition, across the brush’s construction, Suri has introduced measures to reduce the environmental impact of the plastics it uses, from recycled to recyclable materials to more responsible production and disposal .

I tested this toothbrush for 21 days straight, and in that time didn’t have to charge it. The two-minute timer is automatic, with no option to adjust it manually: the brush pulses every 30 seconds to signal that you move to the next quadrant of your mouth then shuts off automatically when the two minutes are up.

There are a couple of niggles. The first is that the brush is almost too simple: alongside its Clean and Polish settings, I’d like to see a gentler mode “sensitive” setting for more delicate teeth and gums. The pressure sensor requires some force to activate it, which could result in over-brushing, and it’s quite loud in operation, registering 69db in my noise measuring app.

But I’m nitpicking. Overall, the Suri Core 1.0 is a simple, high-quality sonic toothbrush for a reasonable price, with some sustainability credentials to boot. It would certainly be my pick over some of the more expensive, feature-stuffed brushes that spring to mind.

Suri Core 1.0: Specifications

Suri Core 1.0: Price and availability

• $75 in the US
• £65 in the UK
• Not yet in the AU

The Suri Core 1.0 is priced at $75 / £65, cheaper than other brushes in the Suri range, which come in at $99 / £85, and offers good value. It’s more expensive than budget electric toothbrushes such as the Ordo Sonic Lite, which is similarly basic in terms of features, but the Core 1.0 feels like a worthwhile step up.

It’s reliable, looks great on your bathroom counter-top, and with Suri’s free brush-head recycling scheme, you can feel good about doing your bit for the environment, too.

Suri Core 1.0: Scorecard

Suri Core 1.0: Should I buy?

Buy it if…

You’re after something simple

The Suri Core 1.0 does one job, at two intensities, and does it well.

You want a toothbrush that looks good

The Suri Core 1.0’s pleasant design will look great on a bathroom shelf.

Suri made this toothbrush specifically to appeal to budget buyers.

Don’t buy it if…

You want an oscillating toothbrush

The sonic toothbrush is just a simple vibration model, whereas Oral-B models come with rotating heads.

You’ve got very sensitive teeth

You may prefer a brush with more settings and a lighter pressure sensor.

Also consider

One of the best budget toothbrushes on the market.

Read our fullOrdo Sonic Lite review

Suri’s excellent full-price electric toothbrush model.

How I tested

I used the Suri Core 1.0 sonic toothbrush for three weeks, brushing morning and night. I measured the decibel levels of the toothbrush using an app, and compared the specs to its contemporaries in the space.